Three leopard cubs found in a sugarcane field at Bharathipuram village in Thalavadi Hills on Monday (July 28, 2025) afternoon were taken back by their mother the same night.
During harvesting in the same field owned by a farmer named Subramani on July 26, workers had discovered a 15-day-old cub, which was taken away by its mother the same night. On Monday morning, three more cubs were spotted in the field, causing panic among the workers and local residents.
The farmer expressed concern over the continued presence of the cubs in his field and initially opposed allowing the mother to return. However, Forest Department officials pacified him and explained the natural behaviour of leopards, which often return for their cubs.
Camera traps were installed to monitor the leopard’s movement, and a cage was placed to safely trap the mother so that she and her cubs could be relocated deep into the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). However, the leopard returned on its own and took the cubs back in the night.
A Forest Department official said all four cubs likely belong to the same mother and that the earlier disturbance during harvesting may have caused the animal to move one cub initially. The official added that the department ensured no human scent or imprint was left near the cubs during both incidents.
Published – July 29, 2025 12:53 pm IST
